Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (20 page)

When her head was good and throbbing, and her tears were long since spent, Jenevier finally allowed a tiny smile to turn up the corners of her still quivering lips. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fragrant lavender, now basking in the precious time she had just spent with her beloved Guardian, fingering the delicate crown he had carefully woven for her out of lavender. She held the sweet blossoms to her nose, inhaling deeply. A warm smile then spread across her face.

“I am glad that a thing such as love does not rule me.”

She quickly turned toward the unfamiliar voice.

“If
I
were your fair Emperor, I would go mad… knowing the depths of your feelings for that Guardian.”

Jenevier hissed as she stood. “Yui knows well the love I will
always
hold for Vittorio.” She let the claws of her right hand fully extend. “You picked the wrong day, the wrong place, and the absolute
worst
time to show yourself to me. Did you forget my warning, Nephilim?”

“Warning?” He furrowed his snowy brow. “Concerning what?”

“Concerning the snake slithering through my lavender. As long as he wishes to hide there, I will leave him to it. But the moment he makes his presence known… is the moment he shall meet his end.”

Rixx smiled. “Actually, you said the moment the snake slithered into your home and invited himself to tea,
that
would be the time for his reaping.” He held out his hands, glancing from side to side. “I am neither in your home, nor am I asking to sup with you, Milady. I only wished a genteel word… Madam Empress.”

He bowed low—regally, extravagantly.

Jenevier rolled her eyes. “Such arrogant graces do not flatter me. I can be swayed by neither reverence nor praise.”

Rixx smiled as he glanced back up at her. “As you say, Milady. May I?”

He motioned toward the large rock upon which she and Vittorio had only just been sitting. When Jenevier gave him no indication whatsoever, Rixx took a cautious step forward.

“Take a seat if you must,” she said coolly. “
I
will not be joining you.”

He bowed his head slightly. “As it should be, Madam Empress.”

“Yes… now speak your peace, then slither back to your hiding place. I am in a foul mood, and I am sure you bore witness to the cause of it—all your damn spying,” she mumbled. “I am itching for an excuse to rid myself of this wretched pain. And… I am unnerved by the look of you—uneased by my consuming desire to rend you wholly.”

Rixx’s eyes went wide, only for an instant. Instead of taking a seat, he took a cautious step back.

“Apologies, Death Angel. I oft forget that you are not nearly as acquainted with me as I am with you. Forgive my unintentional comfort in your presence. Seeing you work through your sorrow, seeing you smile so happily a moment ago… I forgot my place.”

“And now that you recall your place, do you think it wise to remain?”

“I do not, Empress. Yet… my need to enlighten you is warring with my screaming impulse for self-preservation.”

“Be at ease, Nephilim. If you keep your words short and your distance far, I will hear you out.”

“As you say, Kagi Naga.” He bowed again before looking her directly in the eye. “I am not the cause, nor am I to blame, for the thinning of the veils.”

“And I’m supposed to believe you… simply because you claim thus?”

“I do not lie, Your Grace. If you wish to know the answers you seek, look closer to home.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning… scouring the universe is a waste of your time, Milady. The answers are here—upon Jinn, and Jinn alone.”

“Say what you mean, Nephilim!”

She took a single step toward him. Rixx suddenly disappeared.

“Ugh! I am truly starting to hate that slimy little—”

“Who are you talking about?”

Jenevier spun toward the happy sounding voice as Duhrias approached her.

“Somebody got your tail feathers all twisted up?”

“Ahh… sell-sword.” She rubbed the deep crease now furrowing her brow. “Nothing I cannot handle. What brings you to the middle of my favorite field?”

“I don’t know.” He casually shrugged his shoulders. “I just wanted to go for a walk—get out of that stuffy palace.”

“Stuffy?” Jenevier chuckled. “My home is the most unstuffy, comfortable place in the universe.”

“For you, yeah.” He plopped down on the large rock. “But for someone who has spent thousands of years freely flowing where they will, I find it rather… restrictive.”

“Restrictive?” She sat down beside him. “Is Tenshi on to you again concerning your
unpolished
way of speaking?”

“No,” he said, in a half pouting tone. “…Daichi is.”

Jenevier chuckled. “Ahh… Lord Daichi, the proudest and sternest of us all.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.” He glanced sideways at her. “Being with
them
—the other Angels… it’s not like being with you, Naga. When we were together on Earth, you acted just like any other human. Talked like them as well. If I had to guess, I would have sworn you were
from
there.”

She smiled and gently bumped him with her shoulder. “I pride myself on trying to fit in. It’s rather difficult at times—what with my
look
and all.” She traced the outline of the sapphire scar adorning her sparkling cheek. “But I try, nonetheless.”

“You do more than
try
, Naga. Your look is rare, yes, but not all that noteworthy on Earth. Especially not in Gokula.”

Jenevier chuckled, nodding knowingly.

“The way you acted, the way you spoke… it felt familiar, comfortable. I was at ease with you almost immediately.”

“And that is because I took my cues from you and Cherie. I spoke the way you spoke. Acted the way you did. Well, as best I could, anyway.”

Duhrias didn’t speak, only nodded.

“How is Cherie acclimating here? Are the others giving her a hard time as well?”

“No.” He shook his head. “She spends most of her time with that Guardian. He isn’t like the Angels.”

Jenevier snorted out a laugh. “You ain’t kiddin’, Brother. Vareilious is the most Earth-like among us. He loves that place.”

“Yeah… that’s pretty obvious.”

“…Hey.” Jenevier waited until Duhrias met her gaze. “You wanna go back? If you truly miss your old home, I will not hold you to your oath.”

“It is not only my oath that now holds me here.” He smiled with only one corner of his mouth. “My heart is forever bound within those palace walls.”

“…Dimples.” Jenevier smiled knowingly. “Love has a way of doing that, huh?”

He nodded. “As long as I can be by Lala’s side, I will begrudgingly endure my
lessons
.”

“It’s just,” she whispered. “Sometimes you gotta get away for a bit.”

He sighed softly. “Yeah… sometimes.”

“Is Daichi intent on visiting with Lala today?”

Duhrias only nodded in response.

“Then come.” Jenevier grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet. “Let’s go to Iga. And if they’re too stoic for us there…” She smiled, a sparkle lighting up her pink eyes. “…then we’ll play about with
Dragons
.”

Duhrias only laughed as he let his tiny Empress lead him away.

Chapter 13

Iga

(EE-gah)

“Goemon, must you always be such a show-off?”

The smiling Shinobi winked at Jenevier before dismounting his Dragon.

“Of course,” he said. “It’s what I do best.”

You had nothing to do with those aerial tricks
, Nilakanta said.
That was all Kin-Ryu. You just held on, boy.

Goemon smiled. “Ahh, but I held on with such grace and splendor. Right, Naga?”

Jenevier laughed. “There is none like you, Goemon. That’s for sure.”

“Did you hear that, Dimples?” Goemon said, elbowing the other man. “Our Empress thinks I’m one-of-a-kind.”

Duhrias glanced sideways at him. “Yeah… you must be sooo proud.”

Jenevier clamped her hand over her mouth, muffling her laughter.

“Empress Naga.”

The three friends turned toward the approaching Shinobi.

“Yes, Lord Orochimaru? What is it?”

“There is word from the palace. Gabriel awaits you in the village.”

“In the village? Gabriel?” She started toward the Elder Shinobi. “Is he alone? Why didn’t he just come to me here?”

“I could not venture to say, Milady.” Orochimaru extended her his hand. “Yet, he waits for your company at the meeting hall.”

“So… you
can
see him, then.” She tilted her head to the side. “You can see my angelic brother.”

“Only just,” Orochimaru said, uncertainty (or perhaps fear) flashing briefly within his lovely lavender eyes.

Jenevier smiled knowingly. “Very well, Brother. Lead the way.” She turned back to Duhrias and Goemon. “You guys coming? Hurry up. An Arch is waiting on us.”

When she winked playfully at Duhrias, the gentle River Spirit rolled his eyes and fell in step behind her.

“That wasn’t merely a request,” Orochimaru said, tossing his words back over his shoulder.

Goemon released an exaggerated sigh before following them back to the Iga village.

“My questions were the same as yours, Naga,” Duhrias whispered. “Why in the world wouldn’t he just fly out to the Valley of Dragons? And… why Gabriel?”

“I am curious concerning
that
as well,” she whispered back. “I’m racking my brain, but… I cannot pull to mind a single time when Gabriel came to me, alone. Raphael has always accompanied him.”

“Naga… do you fear Gabriel?”

She swallowed hard. “…Yes.”

“And yet… he strikes me as the kindest, gentlest one among them. He is always smiling, and his voice is so soothing.”

Jenevier glanced sideways at her sworn Knight. “That’s because he doesn’t
have
to flaunt his might. Recall, if you will, the samurais of old—the ones back on Earth. Did the greatest among them strut about like a peacock to show off their awesome strength? Or did they howl like a jackal to inspire fear?”

Duhrias furrowed his brow.

“Did they feel the
need
to call attention to their unmatched power? No. They simply unsheathed their sword, removed your head within the same fluid movement, and then calmly returned to their tea.”

The sell-sword turned a wide, startled gaze her way.

Jenevier nodded. “The truly powerful, the ones who claim no equal… they have no need to bolster their might with hollow words or empty theatrics. The truly powerful fear nothing. The need to
act
scary is uncouth… beneath them… unnecessary.” She sighed quietly. “Such is my brother Gabriel.”

Orochimaru cleared his throat as he opened the door and motioned for her to enter. Jenevier alone stepped into the large meeting hall.

At her nearly silent arrival, Gabriel sat down his teacup and stood.

“Ahh… my enchanting baby sister. Come.” He approached her, arms extended. “I have been waiting patiently to gaze upon your lovely face.”

Jenevier did not return his loving hug, but she did not resist him, either.

“Wh-where’s Raphael?”

Gabriel pretended to pout. “Why do you ask? Will you speak only with my chocolate-crowned brother, the most handsome among us?”

“He is not the most handsome among you. This you well know,” she mumbled under her breath. “I only ask because… never have you attended me… in private… just the two of us.”

Gabriel smiled as he leaned back and elegantly crossed his legs—in the most regal, unfeminine-like way Jenevier had ever seen. She swallowed hard again and glanced around the room.

“I came to you this way because
this
conversation is meant for just the two of us… in private. If you choose to share my words, that will be your decision and your decision alone to make. I saw no reason to deliver my news while seated at your council table, Naga. Come. Be at ease. Sit with me and enjoy this delicious green tea your devoted Shinobi have prepared for you.”

He patted the spot beside him and smiled. Jenevier took slow, cautious steps as she came nearer the couch. When she tried to sit, she had to mentally
force
her knees to bend.

“Shall I pour for you, Milady?”

“N-no. I can manage. Gratitude, though.”

When Gabriel chuckled and lightly touched her shoulder, Jenevier jumped and let out a little yelp.

He quickly withdrew. “Kagi Naga… get a hold of yourself. Why are you behaving as if I am made wholly of fire and venom? When have I ever given you reason to act thusly? I thought we were the gentlest kind of friends. You once wished me to wake you with the dawn. What has happened between us?”

“N-nothing has happened between us, Brother.”

“Then why are you so ill at ease?”

“Because… I know who you are now, Gabriel. Back when first we met, I was minus such knowledge. I was young and naïve and completely clueless.” She sighed. “I do not act this way out of fear and unease… not wholly. My reaction is born out of respect—the deepest, most reverent form of respect.”

“Raphael has a loose tongue.” He tsked softly. “I shall have to warn him about filling your pretty little head with such nonsense.”

“I know it isn’t nonsense. You don’t have to play it like that with me, Brother. And besides, Raphael isn’t the only Arch to whisper stories of your… might.”

“If the words did not come from my lips, then believe them not, little Naga.” He brushed her curls back behind her shoulder. “But since
these
words do,” he whispered. “You can hold them as truth.”

When Jenevier turned to look at her angelic golden brother, his face was much closer than she had expected. He smiled then—a magical, celestial smile that erased all fear and left her filled with warming love.

Gabriel gently stroked her sapphire-scarred cheek as he spoke. “I will
never
harm you, Naga. Not even if ordered. You are my precious little sister, and I only get the one.”

“B-but, Gabriel… you would never disobey an order.”

“Yes, ‘tis true. Now… you see my plight. If you truly love me, little one, you will never
ever
… do anything to warrant my particular attention.”

Jenevier only stared at him.

“You must think on my words and promise me true, Naga. There is no fiercer kind of love than that between a brother and his fragile little sister. You had not the chance to know this truth when you were a human, but you are no longer human… and there isn’t a single bully on the playground of this universe who can stand against the might of your most devoted, loving brother.” He lightly kissed her forehead and smiled again. “Promise me,” he whispered.

“I promise, Gabriel. I will never intentionally do anything to warrant your summons… never ever.”

He kissed her again. “As it should be.”

They stayed like that a moment—quiet, still, gently embracing. When Gabriel finally leaned back, he pulled her over against him and began unconsciously playing with her curls.

“I came to you today by Father’s command.”

When Jenevier tensed, Gabriel shushed away her coming panic.

“Fear not, little one. Forget not the promise I only just made to you.” He waited until her shoulders relaxed once more. “Father had a message to be delivered to your ears alone, and He chose me to deliver it.”

Jenevier found herself matching her breathing with Gabriel’s. It was completely unintentional, yet wholly comforting.

Gabriel smiled. “That feels nice, Naga. You could soothe a demon with such talent.”

“Right now… I’d settle for just soothing myself,” she whispered softly.

“Then let me help you in the task, little one. Father wished you to know that the threat of the thinning has passed. Search not for the cause, little Naga. The drain of magic has ceased… and will no longer be a threat. Turn your attention now toward the
healing
of the veils.”

“The healing?” Jenevier sat up and looked down into Gabriel’s golden eyes. “Is it not true that once the magic is depleted… it is gone… forever?”

“Yes, that is true. Father is not asking you to produce something that has already been used and is no longer. He wishes you to
replace
it.”

“Replace it? B-but how?”

“That is an answer I do not have. Father said
you
would know, that you already held the power in your tiny little hands.”

“But…” She shook her head. “What does that even mean?”

“Father said… Only the most ancient, most powerful of all magic can heal the harm that has been wrought.
You
possess such power, Kagi Naga.”

“…There must be some sort of mistake.”

Gabriel chuckled. “Father doesn’t make mistakes.”

“I know, but… well,
look
at me, Gabriel. You were around for my birth and the birth of my ancestors as well. I am not ancient, Brother. I hold no secrets.”

“Just because you
hold
the power, does not necessarily mean that you
wield
it. Think hard, baby Angel. What do you possess that no one else does?”

She furrowed her brow, but didn’t speak.

Gabriel pulled her closer, resting their foreheads together. “What do you hold dominion over, Kagi Naga? What ancient force bends itself to your will?”

“…Vindicus?”

Gabriel chuckled again. “Even more ancient and powerful than
that
old blue devil. Speaking of which… I can make him leave your home, Naga. Leave your home and never return. I hold such power. All you have to do is but whisper. Whisper the word and know… it will be done.”

“Umm… can I think on it for a while?”

He sighed and wrapped his arms around her. “Just don’t wait too long. Remember the promise you just made.”

“…I remember.”

“There is one more thing I wish to tell you. I was not commanded to do so… but I think you should know.”

His whisper was so sad, so pained; she sat back up and looked down at him.

“What could trouble my beautiful brother so?”

“You call Raphael your
most
beautiful brother.”

Jenevier smiled, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

“Hey.” Gabriel gently took her hand. “I am not troubled for myself. I worry what my news will do to
you
… to
your
heart.”

She swallowed hard. “W-what news?”

“Concerning your Senpai, Munenori.”

Jenevier closed her eyes and tried to brace herself for the blow she knew was soon coming.

“You have never met our brother Michael. Of all the stories whispered about me,
his
tales are ten times the greater.”

She slowly opened her eyes.

“You may not know Michael, but he knows you. I was there when he went to Father—
begged
a summons concerning Apollyon.” Gabriel wrapped one of her curls around his finger. “Michael wished only to protect you—stop your beloved Vindicus before his war found Jinn… found
you
.”

Tears burned the backs of her eyes. Yet, she held her silence.

“But Father denied him his earnest plea. Instead, He instructed Munenori to reveal
all
to you. Father didn’t want you to be left in the dark… concerning the true nature of the one you once loved.”

Jenevier glanced off then, recalling the painful memory of how Apollyon looked on that battlefield—how he looked as he drew back to kill Tenshi… and felled Varick instead. Her soul quaked within her from the loss, it always would.

Gabriel’s words pulled her back to the present.

“Munenori was instructed to tell you the truth in everything—your celestial inheritance, your guardianship, the coming war… even the truth concerning your beloved Daichi. He was to tell you all, and then guide you always. Father knew full well the power you had been given to tempt… the same as you share with Jophiel and Ahriman. He warned Munenori—told him he must withstand your ethereal pull at all costs… or be ceased.”